Acetylene-gas-generating machine



Patented Apr. l8, I899. F. E. PORTER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 10, 1898.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Shani l.

z R 4 i K 4% x Q L No. 623,425; Patented Apr. 18, I899. F. E. PORTER.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 10, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

age

Uwrrnn Sterne Parent @rrrca F EDRICK E. PORTER, OF NE\V DURHAM, NEIV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL AUTOMATIC ACETYLENE GAS MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GA S- GENERATING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,425, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed February 10, 1898x Serial No. 669,744. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK E. Ponrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Durham, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generating Machines, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to gas-generating ma- )0 chines, and particularly to machines for generating acetylene gas.

The object of the invention is to provide suitable means for automatically regulating the supply of water to the calcium carbid during the operation of the machine in apositive manner bythe rise and fall of the gasometer.

The invention is applicable for use in connection with any device where a delicate and positive regulation of the flow of a liquid is desired, and I desire to secure its use in all such instances, notwithstanding I have described the same herein in connection with an acetylene-gas machine.

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated the invention as applied to an acetylene-gas-generating machine, Figure 1 is asectional view of a machine, showing the invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the valve and its connections with the gasometer, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the thrust-rod and surrounding parts.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A represents a suitable tank and a gas- 3 5 ometer therein and adapted to rise and fall in the usual manner inside the tank, and communication between the gasometer and the tank being shut off from each other by any desirable means, preferably by a seal of water 40 between the two tanks, as is common in ap paratus of this character.

R R are the retorts in which the calcium carbid is placed and in which is generated the acetylene gas by the addition of water there- 5 to. A pipe B connects the retorts with the gasometer, and a pipe 0 leads from the gasometer to the place-of consumption.

Thus far the apparatusdescribed is substantially the same as is in common usein various places, and I do not claim any novelty in such construction, nor do I limit my self to any particular type of apparatus.

Attached to the gasolneter and located either outside of the tank A or inside thereof, as shown in the drawings, is an actuatingrod F, which is suitably connected with the mechanism for controlling the flow of water to the retorts. In the present instance the water is located between the tank and the gasometer, and apipe Q leads from said source of water-supply to the retorts. In pipe Q is a valve, which in this instance comprises a cone-shaped seat L, a cone-shaped plug N, adapted to rest therein and having a vertical stem M of sufficient weight to normally keep the plug in close fit with the valve-seat, and a support G, having formed thereon a tube J, which surrounds the valve-stem M and guides the latter in its movement. It is ob-- vious that any form of valvesuch, for instance, as the usual rotary plug shut-off valve-may be used in place of the one here described, and I therefore do not limit myself to this form, although for reasons to be hereinafter set forth I prefer this particular construction in practice.

The actuating-rod F may, if preferred, be attached directly to the valve-stem or other part which operates the valve; but in practice I prefer to attach one end of the rod to the lower end of the gasometer and the other end to a pivoted stud f, whereby the rod will be inclined from the side of the gasometer and will be located in a line oblique to the path of movement of the gasometer. Stud f should be provided with means, such as a setscrew, to vary the inclination of the rod. A thrust-rod 0, having a perforation in one end through which the actuating-rod passes, rests loosely in a supporting-sleeve la, formed upon or adjacent to the tube J, and has an oblique surface or point which passes through a perforation in the upper. part of stem M. The oblique surface may be formed upon the upper side only of the rod 0 or upon both the 5 upper and lower sides, if preferred.

111 the operation of the device above described after the carbid has been placed in the retorts and a sufficient quantity of water allowed to enter the latter to generate enough 1 oo gas to raise the gasometer until the desired pressure of gas has been reached any further upward movement of the gasometer will cause rod F to pull back rod 0, and thus allow the heavy stem M to drop and close the valve, shutting off further supply of water and preventing the further generation of gas. The water may be allowed to enter the valve from its source of supply in any suitable manner-such, for instance, as allowing it to flow through tube J around the stem M. When the pressure of gas in the gasometer drops and the gasometer begins to fall, the rod F will push rod 0 forward and cause the valve-stem to be raised by the action of the oblique surface on the end of rod 0. In most cases the weight of the valve-stem is sufficient to insure the valve closing when rod 0 is drawn back; but if the lower side of the rod be provided with an oblique surface in a parallel plane with the upper surface the backward motion of rod 0 will have the same positive effect in forcing the valve-stem down as the forward motion of rod 0 has in forcing it up, or, in other words, the action will be the same as that between rods F and o. Vhile the machine is in operation and the gas is being drawn from the gasometer, the movement of the valve-plug N away from and toward its seat L will be very slight, with the result that the water will flow down the sides of the cone-shaped plug and drop by drop pass into pipes P and Q. This is advantageous in that it insures a regular and thorough action of the water upon the carbid.

It is apparent that the apparatus above described may be modified or various parts eliminated or substitutions made therefor without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as confining myself to the precise construction and operation here shown and described.

Having thus described myinvention, I declare that what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a valve having a stem, of a body adapted to reciprocate adjacent thereto and having an actuating-rod oblique to the path of movement of said stem, a thrust-rod having a perforation embracing said actuating-rod, and a connection between said thrust-rod and said stem, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a valve having a perforated stem, of a body adapted to reciprocate adjacent thereto and having an actu ating-rod oblique to the path of movement of said stem, and a thrust-rod having an oblique surface projecting into the perforation in the valve-stem and a perforation embracing said actuating-rod, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a gasometer, a retort, a source of water-supply, a passage from said source of water-supply to said retort, means for regulating the flow of water in said passage, a device for actuating said means, and an actuating-rod carried by the gasometer impinging against and operating said device and having a sidewise motion oblique to the path of movement of the latter, substan-' tially as described.

4. The combination of a gasometer, aretort, a source of water-supply, a passage from saidsonrce of water-supply to said retort, a valve in said passage, a device for actuating said valve, and an actuating-rod carried by the gasometer impinging against and operating said device and having a sidewise motion oblique to the path of movement of the latter, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a gasometer, a retort, a source of water-supply, a passage from said source of water-supply to said retort, a

valve in said passage having a vertical perfo rated stem, a thrust-rod having an oblique surface projecting into said perforation, and an actuating-rod carried by the gasometer impinging against and actuating said thrust-rod and having a sidewise motion oblique to the path of movement of said thrust-rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED. E. PORTER. Witnesses:

L. M. ARCHER, O. V. EDWARDS. 

